Our skin as an organ of demarcation

In order to know how we can support the skin in its role as an organ of demarcation, it is important to understand its structure and function. The skin has developed its own system to retain moisture and various protective mechanisms. With the right care, we can strengthen the skin barrier in a natural way. First, let’s take a look at its structure.

Structure of the skin

The structure of the skin can be roughly divided into 3 layers. Let’s start from the inside of the body and work our way outwards. The innermost (lowest) layer of skin is the subcutis. It contains the fatty and connective tissue and is therefore our body’s energy store. Around 2/3 of our body fat is located here and protects us from hypothermia. Incidentally, fatty tissue is very well supplied with blood. If there is an excess of fat in the blood, it can be stored directly in the subcutis. Conversely, if there is a deficiency, the fatty tissue can also be broken down again.

The middle layer is the dermis. This is where we find collagen and elastic fibers that determine the skin’s state of tension. The more moisture these fibers retain, the plumper and more youthful our skin appears. The dermis is criss-crossed by blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic vessels. The sensory cells with which we can feel pressure, temperature and pain are also located here. The sebaceous and sweat glands are also located here.

Above the dermis we find the epidermis: the place where keratinization takes place. The epidermis is constantly renewing itself. The transformation of an intact skin cell into a lifeless horny scale takes 28 days. On their way from the inner edge of the epidermis to the outer edge, the cells change their shape and function. Initially round with a functioning cell wall and nucleus, they open up the nucleus and cytoplasm on their journey. These components are recycled and form important building blocks of the skin barrier.

The skin as an external demarcation organ

The skin is our external barrier. But how can dry, loose horny flakes form a stable skin barrier? A skin barrier that prevents pathogens and harmful substances from penetrating our body through the skin and at the same time protects us from moisture loss?

That only works in a team.

The hydro-lipid film lies at the very top of the skin. Anyone who has ever poured oil into a pot of water while cooking knows that the oil floats on top of the water and does not mix. So how can our skin form an even film of water and oil? After all, water and oil do not sit close together as fine, small droplets. The skin makes its own cream. A cream consists of water and fat, which are combined by an emulsifier. In the skin, the emulsifier is found in the components of the cell nuclei, which dissolve on the way up during keratinization. On the surface of the skin, the sebum (fat) from the sebaceous glands mixes with the sweat (water) and the keratinization products to form an even film. This film ensures a slightly acidic pH value of around 5.3 and thus protects our skin from unwanted microorganisms. To a certain extent, the film can also filter sunlight and slightly attenuate radiation.

The second in the team is Rein’s barrier. It forms a continuous layer in the epidermis (approximately at mid-height, where cell death begins), which is mainly composed of lipids (fats). Its horny layer lipids protect against water evaporation from the tissue and at the same time prevent water from entering our body. Without Rein’s barrier, we would not be able to swim – we would swell up completely. We also owe it to this barrier that no foreign substances can penetrate us.

The skin is a fascinating and sophisticated system that surrounds and protects the inside of our body. The boundary between inside and outside is a sensitive area. This makes it all the more important that we support and strengthen its function with the right care.

What care does your skin need? Tips and tricks

As you can see, the skin manages quite well on its own. Nowadays, however, the skin is exposed to many stimuli: air pollution, fine dust, stress, more intensive UV radiation or an unbalanced diet (deficiency). All these factors have changed since the Stone Age and make it sensible to support the skin with natural care. The basic principle is simple: do nothing that weakens the skin barrier.

Tipp: Sanft reinigen.

In the evening, gently cleanse the skin with a little water and oil (you see, skin-like substances). In the morning, it is recommended to cleanse the skin with water only. If we wash out the lipids in the skin barrier by over-cleansing with double cleansing or cleansing foam, for example, the skin is stressed. Imagine you have an important job to do and someone is constantly trying to stop you from doing it. You react irritably, don’t you? The skin is no different. It becomes more permeable to pollutants, becomes sensitive and reacts more quickly to stimuli.

Tipp: Die Pflege an den Hauttyp anpassen.

Oily skin needs moisturizing care above all, as the balance in the hydro-lipid film has shifted in favour of lipids. Dry skin is characterized by reduced sebum production. The skin’s moisture evaporates much more quickly. It is advisable to use a rich skin care product that provides the skin with an envelope and thus keeps the moisture in the skin. A predominantly watery skin care product is unfortunately of little use for dry skin, as it will not remain in the skin for long due to a lack of lipids.

With age, the production of sebaceous glands decreases, the skin becomes drier regardless of skin type and needs richer care.

Tipp: Bausteine für den Aufbau liefern – innerlich und äußerlich

Rein’s barrier is made up of lipids. By using a natural skin care product that contains rich plant oils, we can supply the skin with different lipids that it can incorporate into the barrier as building blocks. With oils or plant extracts that are rich in natural antioxidants, we can also help the skin to defend itself against free radicals. Free radicals are caused by stress or UV radiation, for example. They disrupt metabolic processes and damage cell structures. Antioxidants capture the free radicals and render them harmless. It is just as important to supply the skin with nutrients from the inside: A balanced diet with essential fatty acids (e.g. nuts with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) and vitamins (=natural antioxidants) makes a major contribution to healthy skin function.

The skin’s barrier function is vital for us. It works for us 24/7: storing moisture, warding off germs, filtering UV radiation, regulating the pH value – these are just a few of its tasks. With a balanced, varied diet and natural skin care, we can provide the skin with important building blocks that it needs to perform its barrier function and thus support it in its function.

This blog post was written by our KickAss partner Andrea Dablander. She develops authentic natural cosmetics. Her promise: plant-based active ingredient cosmetics for beautiful, radiant skin. All her products are Natrue-certified. As part of the #kickasssquad , you will receive 15% off all Andrea Dablander products.